Cherry Time

I have fond memories of my grandmother (Mammy) baking me a cherry pie when I was a little girl. She would let me know when the cherries were ripe so I could come pick & eat 'em right off the tree.

Well the tradition is still going on - only now I have some helpers (or at least some company as I pick). The kids and I have been out twice this year to pick from the overflowing cherry trees. I can't say that the kids actually help me fill up the bucket. They definitely fill up their bellies and have a blast spitting cherry pits at each other.

We made a homemade cherry pie, cherry sauce to go on ice cream and kept some fresh cherries to eat from our first cherry picking trip. This time we made homemade cherry muffins and a cherry cobbler. I must say the muffins are delicious!! Probably my favorite cherry recipe this year.

We enjoyed the cobbler also. Very yummy with some vanilla ice cream on top. Too bad the cherries don't stay around long. We had an angry mockingbird "yelling" at us as we picked. I'm sure he and his buddies enjoy cherry season also. I explained to him that there are plenty to go around. My children got a good laugh at me fussing back at the mockingbird. Oh well, he needed to know that I wasn't going to be intimidated and scared away from enjoying such a tasty treat.

As I was typing this I started singing a song from my teen years "Sweet Cherry Pie". I thought about adding it to my playlist. That thought quickly went away when I pulled up the lyrics. Funny how lyrics back then seemed so harmless, but now that I'm a Mommy they really make me cringe. Those of you who know the song I know are singing it now...Ha! Ha!

Family Pictures

As you celebrate Memorial Day....

Thank You, Lord, for those who died fighting for our freedom. May we honor them and You in all that we do and say. We praise You for Your hand of protection upon all in the military who continue to fight for that freedom in Jesus' name, Amen!!

Quick update & Be The Match

Sorry, I haven't been updating lately...busy, busy! Here's a quick rundown of what's been going on (more in later posts - when I have more time):

* Wilson Gang Task force "Takin' it to the Park" (treasure hunt - will explain more later)
* Baseball, baseball, baseball - Christian is doing great!!
* Wooten sold tickets, worked and helped bake cakes for a youth spaghetti fundraiser. He's gearing up for camp this summer.
* The kids had their end-of-year testing.
* Strawberry picking and cherry picking
* I've been reading (more like engrossed) in the Twilight series.
* Anna Gracen is learning a new dance for the church anniversary later this summer.
* I've been practicing a dance that some of us on the dance team will be doing for the Ladies' Conference at church next weekend. We're dancing to "Mercy Seat".
* The nursing home where the kids from church visit each month was burned last weekend. Praise the Lord no one was seriously injured! They hope to have it rebuilt in about 3 months.

God is such an on time God! As mentioned in an earlier post I recently learned of two people diagnosed with Leukemia. Laura and I talked about bone marrow transplants. I told her how I an on the registry to be a bone marrow donor. Well, yesterday I received a letter from the National Marrow Donor Program - Be The Match. It was time for me to update my information. I signed up to be a member May 8, 1999 when a little girl in Wilson needed a transplant. Being part of the registry means that as doctors search the registry my "tissue type is being continuously reviewed as a possible match for a patient in need." Once they find a donor they contact the individual quickly.

How can you help? You can join the registry, make a tax-deductible contribution and/or volunteer. Visit www.BeTheMatch.org/2help to learn more.

Birthday Wishes

Most of you have probably been following Tricia, Nate & Gwyneth Rose's story over the past year. Today is Tricia's 27th birthday. Drop by their blog and leave some birthday wishes.

Had to share

I received this in an e-mail and wanted to share.

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: 'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer. 'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain? I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: 'You know what? Barbers do not exist.' 'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!' 'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'
'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!!!!!!!

Prayer Request

Laura's brother, Greg, was diagnosed yesterday with leukemia. She thinks it's the same type as family friend, Lori (mentioned in earlier post). When I received Laura's first e-mail asking for prayer for Greg she mentioned that he "had an issue of blood". The following immediately came to my mind.

Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Lord, we thank You for complete healing manifesting in Greg and Lori. We praise You that You use this for Your good. That You are ministering to Greg and Lori and their families. You are their God and You alone are good!! We praise You that this issue of blood is no more – Greg and Lori are touching the hem of Jesus’ garment and immediately are healed. Greg and Lori will decree and declare their healing testimony. They are full of faith and are made whole walking in peace in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen and Amen!

Thank you for joining in prayer and believing in complete healing! God is bigger than anything we face. He is bigger than cancer!! Jesus' cleansing blood is covering us - His children.